Dr. Melissa Chee, PhD Carleton University

Dr. Chee’s latest research shows that fructose produces apostrophe in the brain that convey hunger and over-eating. A ubiquitous sugar, it permeates the Canadian diet disguised as sweeteners like glucose-fructose syrup or high fructose corn syrup. While sugar is necessary to fuel our mind and body, Dr. Chee’s work cautions against excessive intake of fructose and advocates for restrictions on sugary drinks and processed food where fructose is especially pervasive. Her research team implements cutting-edge neuroscience to monitor and regulate the activity of individual brain cells important for body weight control. Dr. Chee is a neuroscientist, professor, mentor, and proud leader of the Chee Lab at Carleton University. She received her PhD from the University of Alberta and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Institute in Boston. She continues to share her expertise globally with research and teaching collaborations at Harvard Medical School, Boston.